I was expecting more politics in this book but got a whole lot more romance than I thought was necessary for an alternate history about such a interesting political figure. Rodham's politics were always overshadowed by her lingering romantic feelings for Bill or frustration over her lack of dating life. I really wanted to enjoy this book and learn more about Hillary and her political life but I think my expectations for what the book aimed to be was different from what the author intended.

I received this ARC from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What if Hillary Rodham didn't marry Bill Clinton? When I first saw that line and the cover of this book I knew I had to read it. Some other reviews have classified this as a sort of FanFiction, and I would agree with that but it's also very well written and researched and though I am unsure if Hillary's life would have unfolded like Curtis Sittenfeld has written, it's definitely one of the courses her life could have taken. A great read for lovers of Hillary (maybe not so much Bill Clinton) that will keep you engaged until the very end.

I thoroughly enjoyed Curtis Sittenfield's "American Wife" and couldn't wait to read this book. It's right up my alley since I'm a political reporter in Washington, DC. I was on the convention floor when Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination in 2016 and have met her a couple of times. Since I was a kid, I've watched Hillary and seen her held up as a standard - or a punching bag - for women in the spotlight. Perhaps because I had such high expectations for this book, I just could not get into it. The first-person voice is an odd choice since we already have memoirs from Clinton herself. I appreciate that Sittenfeld wants us to be immersed in the way Hillary thinks but the oddly detached tone - while representative of Clinton herself - kept me at arm's length from the story. That's a shame because Sittenfeld has constructed a fascinating and thought-provoking alternate history that is certain to get book clubs talking. She theorizes that Hillary's support of her husband in that famous 60 Minutes interview made the difference in getting Bill Clinton elected. She also poses the question of what is worth settling for in a marriage - is being married to your best friend worth enough to watch them cheat on you for decades? Ultimately, the most interesting idea posed in the book is that Hillary Rodham Clinton gave up her chance at being true to herself and winning the presidency by staying loyal to Bill and betraying the women who accused him of sexual assault. In this alternative history, Hillary Rodham stays true to her feminist principles at the expense of a great love but is ultimately rewarded by becoming the first female president.

What if Hillary stuck with her original answer to Bill and said no? What if she wasn’t the First Lady? How much power would her grit and brains get her? Agree with Hillary politically or not, she is a woman who uses her voice and speaks her mind. Curtis Sittenfeld delves into a hybrid of historical fiction and fan fiction and let’s us imagine how history would have been different if Hillary rodham Clinton just stayed Hillary Rodham. I enjoyed this book like the author’s others. To me, like THE AMERICAN WIFE, did for Laura Bush RODHAM pulls away the layers of politics covering the Woman and allows a glimpse inside. Love her or hate her this is a good read. Love him or hate him without her he would be different. This was a thought provoking and fun read. Coming May 19. During this emotionally charged political allow yourself to suspend reality and re-evaluate who and what you thought you knew. This was a well researched novel and a creative way to look further into the woman who ran for President. Curtis Sittenfeld is smart and creative.
I liked reading Hillary’s reactions to bill’s infidelity as she was involved and then watching from afar. I also loved the complete TWIST on the 2016 election! I don’t know much about HRC but her relationship with Chelsea has always seemed strong. In this alternative universe Chelsea is not there. I would have liked to hear more about this or maybe explored her as a single mother. But all in all this brought up a lot of questions and for humanized Hillary. No matter your political affiliation I recommend this novel. Really enjoyed it

When a politician is as simultaneously admired and vilified as Hillary Rodham Clinton, it becomes very tantalizing to consider the “what ifs.” What if Hillary had said “no” to Bill Clinton’s third marriage proposal and they had gone their separate ways? Could Bill Clinton reach the pinnacle of his ambition were it not for Hillary? Indeed, could Hillary herself reach it? Would either of them have ascended to the presidency? Would George W. Bush, Obama or Trump prevail had the Clinton dynamics markedly shifted?

In re-imaging Hillary Rodham Clinton’s life, Curtis Sittenfeld often makes inspired plot choices. It would spoil the fun for me to reveal any of them but suffice to say that Bill surrenders to some of his basest instincts and Trump is, forevermore, just who you’d suspect he is.

This novel definitely has a feminist undertone. Hillary’s fierce intelligence and the obstacles she (and other women politicians) must confront regularly are definitely highlighted. Expect to find the “staying home and baking cookies” fiasco in another context and the old tired trope of Hillary-as-lesbian or Hillary-as-frigid-woman as well as a revisionist “lock her up” tactic.

Part of the puzzle that Ms. Sittenfeld does not address is: how specific are all the attacks to Hillary herself? Ms. Sittenfeld does recognize that part of the problem is a rigidity in Hillary’s approach. There is a particularly strong scene where Hillary goes off script and speaks authentically and this reader particularly yearned for such an outcome in real life.

I know this book is going to be controversial, and probably passionately discussed and debated. Here are my thoughts....

Without giving away too much, Rodham: a Novel is the story of how Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham met in law school, and what would have been had they not married.

📚What I Appreciated About this Book: I found this book to be brilliantly written, full of so much research and care. Hillary comes across as a pro-women, passionate about her career, and a human. I loved how Sittenfeld illustrated what Rodham's life looked like as a normal post-college-aged women. She had wants, desires, feelings. For most of this section, I forgot that "Hillary" was Hillary Rodham, and not just another young woman falling in love. I also loved the first-hand view into what running for president, or a high level position, feels like from their perspective. I was fascinated by the details, and the maneuvers that the candidate must make.

📚What Did Not Work For Me: The only part of the book that lagged for me was about midway through the book before Hillary decides to pursue a campaign. There was a small section that was a bit slow there for me. Overall, this book blew me away. I honestly haven't felt this way about a book in so long; I couldn't stop thinking about this book, dreaming about it, talking about, laughing in my head about passages. It covers a huge range of Hillary's life, and I loved experiencing first love with her, careers highs, and the realities of becoming older as a woman in this society. I could go on and on...

A blazing hot 5 stars.

I went into this book hoping that it was similar to Sittenfeld's prior book, AMERICAN WIFE, which i enjoyed immensely. I was disappointed. But, I hasten to add, that it wasn't because the book was bad or otherwise lacking. My expectations for the book were unclear. I was interested to see what Sittenfeld did with an alternate Hillary Clinton story and I was very interested in the avenue she chose to pursue.

That I didn't enjoy it as much as American Wife may have much more to do with my own politics than the books themselves. I felt weird reading a book with an alternate universe for people who are real and still alive. I had a hard time setting that aside even as I read the book with gusto. I found the beginning not as engaging as the part that reimagines history. All in all I would recommend this book without saying whether I truly liked it. I think feeling it deserves a recommendation is enough and each reader can make up her mind.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3246410629

I received this title as an ARC thru Net Galley and this is my unbiased review. I am also a huge Rodham fan but this still my honest take on this work.

Although this is an alternate take on the events of Hilary Rodham's life I think this work goes further than just addressing the happenings of one woman's life. Throughout the novel Sittenfeld addresses the inequities that confront women when they do anything that is not considered the "normal" paradigm. Women are judged by whether or not they marry, have children and if they have a successful ambitious career. The first two are considered acceptable the third not so much. So as much as this book is about one woman, Rodham, it is about the challenges that all women face.

It is confounding that many other successful industrialized nations have had a woman as a leader yet the United States fails to have sworn in a woman as President. Notice I didn't say elected but I will leave my politics out of this review.

Additionally, this book also speaks about the 24 hour news cycle and the effect of social media on how we perceive what is important. Rodham, in real life, as a Senator had the ability to develop consensus, work across the aisle and represent her constituents along with women and families. Did any of that make the news cycle or did perseverating on her cookie comments or appearance (how many times was her weight and appearance discussed) but not her policies or plans. Not only a Rodham problem but a problem for all women.

Yes I would recommend this book not because of the Rodham lens (although good) that is used to tell a story of the injustice and unfairness that women face everyday. It makes me both sad and angry.

I felt this book had real potential, but unfortunately it left me feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.

The first third of this book was strong and set my expectations pretty high. I thought the characterization of Hillary, Bill, and their initial relationship was engaging and well-developed. However, once their relationship ends and the story diverges from actual history, the story takes a turn for the worse.

First of all, I was confused by the chapter divides. I understand that the most important and grounded points in the story are the 1970s, 1991, and 2015, but I feel like there are other significant moments between those periods which are crucial to Hillary's personal and career development that are only briefly addressed or skipped over entirely.

One would assume that a book that banks itself on "What if Hillary DIDN'T marry Bill?" would have Bill Clinton as a minor character. But no, he's unfortunately a constant presence throughout the book. Of course, he was an important person in Hillary's life, but after their relationship ends, he's just a consistent and unnecessary thorn in her side. Sure, that means there's always conflict, but I think conflict could've been developed in other, less groan-worthy ways.

While I think Hillary is well-developed in the first third of the book, she later on becomes more two-dimensional. She's more strategic and career focused, while being sort of ignorant and foolish when it comes to love and personal relationships. The story makes a point to say that when it comes to career vs. family, Hillary has clearly chosen her career and sees no way to find love or make it work (no matter how much she might want to). I found that to be reductive and limiting in terms of her character's potential. Why can't she have both, or at least try to have both?

There's an uncomfortable undertone of racism in this story. There are times when Hillary, as a white woman, recognizes her ignorance on such issues, but she also actively uses her privilege to advance her career, even though it severely damages an important friendship. Additionally, while it is not outright said, it is implied that Hillary believes women's rights and empowerment are more important to her than racial equality and empowerment, which is disturbing to say the least.

The ending is wish fulfillment at its finest. While I had assumed such an ending was inevitable even before starting the book, that doesn't mean I thought it was fitting. It felt unearned and rushed, just an excuse to end on a positive, pro-women, pro-feminism, etc. note.

** spoiler alert ** Apologies in advance, but I just don't think I can review this books without a few spoilers...so stop reading my review and pre-order this book!

I guess I requested an ARC of this book not because I am a fan of Hillary Clinton (I don't dislike her, just don't really know much about her or her politics for that matter), but rather because I am a fan of Curtis Sittenfeld.

And although I loved the second half of the book -- the development of Hillary's alternate reality and the theme of fate versus destiny -- the first part of the book that re-imagines her relationship with Bill Clinton just really creeped me out. I just kept cringing and wishing she would have walked away from that train wreck sooner!

That said, the book is so well written (and the fact that Sittenfeld dishes up some karma for Bill in the end) I give the book 4 stars even though I'm feeling 3 while still trying to recover from the Hillary/Bill sex parts. I am still a huge of Sittenfeld, I just know I would have liked this story better if it wasn't based on the real-life Clinton's.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This book proposes an alternate universe version of Hillary's life had she not married Bill. Part 1 hews fairly close (I assume) to Bill and Hillary's early dating years, and was a bit dry. I was too young to have been drawn in by Bill's charisma before the media whirlwind caused by his workplace sexual harrasment began - so I have a hard time viewing Bill (even fictionally) as anything but an (alleged) serial sexual predator.
Once we get into part 2 and the fictional world begins in earnest. I thought it was an interesting take on what could've been and well worth a discussion.
I didn't love the alternate world proposed by Sittenfeld, but I think that makes it more probable - no one makes all the right choices, and in politics especially, the quest for power is valued above ethics.
There's certainly a great deal of fodder for discussion contained within Rodham, but it wasn't quite what I envisioned for a fictional take on such a towering figure in American politics.

Curtis Sittenfeld never disappoints! This was a smartly plotted alternate timeline story of what could have been for Hillary had she not married Bill. A bit sad to think about when compared to...everything in reality, but still a powerful, enjoyable read.

Rodham is a fun thought experiment about what could have happened if Hillary hadn’t married Bill. The writing is enjoyable and the plot of the book reads as juicy, sometimes ridiculous, and sometimes really sad. People will probably be upset with Sittenfeld’s choices for her version of Hillary. I found it to be very readable and a vehicle for escapism.

I wanted to love this book; I really did. I wanted Curtis Sittenfeld to unbreak my heart and give me the most beautiful feminist fantasy about if Hillary never married Bill. While I am a fan of SIttenfeld (especially Eligible), she just didn't bring the story to a satisfying ending.

SPOILERS BELOW




If you are like me, election day 2016 was at first hopeful and then crushing. Hillary Clinton's concession speech made me cry, and I was moved to a deep, global depression. I wanted Sittenfeld's novel to have the kind of satisfying revenge on the patriarchy that would help ease the pain; maybe I am asking too much.
While I love how she wrote in HIllary's voice, and I think the anecdotes and information about her life leading up to her (fictional) run for president in 2015 were engaging, it is really the ending I have a problem with. I wanted Bill to get his comeuppance in a BIG way. I wanted Trump to fall on his face (or not be in the universe at all), and I wanted to cry with relief and melancholy when Hillary wins the election (I assumed she would because-- why would Sittenfeld want to hurt us even more!), She does win, but it falls flat and anticlimactic.

I loved this! Couldn't put it down! I was fascinated by the alternate timeline developed here, and the characterization was spot-on.

The story starts in 1971 as Hillary Rodham graduates with a law degree from Yale University. It is there that she meets Bill Clinton. They both embark on their separate careers, falling in love and moving in together. It soon becomes evident that Bill wants her to give up her career and move to Arkansas with him. He proposes several times but she doesn't marry him. This is where, as a reader, I part with the author of this book. It seems like a lot of Bill bashing. As we all know, he probably deserves it. When she realizes that his womanizing is not going to stop now or ever, she leaves him and takes her own path to Washington. This is where Hillary shines. Although this is a very painful path, she triumphs in the end.

Hands down the best I've read from Sittenfeld. I absolutely loved this alternate universe. Curtis is exceptional when it comes to reimagining the world or fictionalizing true stories and twisting them. I loved this. The research she had to have done to follow this timeline so closely while also tankering with it and changing it based on her imagination and creativity... just amazing. Everyone needs to read this!

An enjoyable, engrossing read, especially for political junkies and Clinton family followers and foes alike. An imagining of Hillary Rodham's life if she had met and then moved on without marrying Bill Clinton. A completely believable parallel universe in which Hillary Rodham goes her own way and has her own political career, separate from Clinton. One of Curtis Sittenfeld's strengths is in writing the everyday moments and conversations that make up a person's life and her Rodham is as human as any of us - complex, strong, smart, fallible and at times frustrating. We cheer her on and just as often cringe at her mistakes. Although fiction, the real Hillary Clinton is such an important character in our collective imagination that it is easy to forget that Sittenfeld's Hillary is, in fact, fictional.

While I didn't enjoy Rodham as much as some of Sittenfeld's other novels - the character of Hillary Rodham doesn't seem quite as fully drawn as, for example, the Laura Bush-based protagonist of Sittenfeld's other "political" novel, American Wife - nevertheless appreciative readers will not regret delving into this novel.

Rodham offers an alternate history of Hillary Clinton, told from an up-close perspective. It would be hard not to have had high expectations for this book. Sittenfeld is a talented writer, albeit one with a limited scope, much in the manner of John Updike. WASPs, elite education, the upper/aspiring classes. That is where her interests lie. Sadly, they are not where mine lie. I appreciate the fluidity and authenticity of Sittenfeld's writing in Rodham. There is an art to writing a fictional memoir. Hillary's voice was believable and the characters felt real. Unfortunately, Hillary also felt dull and boring. While the fictionalization could have made her more empathetic, more likable, instead she became less so. It was as if removing the veneer revealed exactly the same thing on the inside, like the classic comedy gag about taking off a suit and finding a suit underneath. Many people will read and enjoy this book. Many people will read Rodham and find the Hillary that they loved in the 2016 election. I could not find that Hillary. As an aside--and this is my personal taste--I found the sex scenes borderline repulsive, the furthest thing from erotic or compelling.

While Hillary Clinton’s biography told us “What Happened,” Curtis Sittenfeld’s alternate history book asks, “What If?” What if Hillary Rodham had never married Bill Clinton?

At first the book follows Hillary's life as it was: She goes to Yale Law school, where she meets the handsome and charismatic Bill Clinton. Their relationship progresses, and she follows him to Arkansas. However, in this re-telling, instead marrying Bill, they break up and she heads back to Chicago.

In previous books, Sittenfeld’s strength has been showing the interplay of relationships, not just the romantic ones. However, in Rodham, her other relationships take a backseat to descriptions of the political dynamics. The book is obviously well researched. However, the verbatim quotes from actual news stories and events sometimes make the book feel a little like reading a Wikipedia entry. There are some odd cameos by Donald Trump, which I could have done without.

Still, the book poses some interesting questions about gender and ambition and would make a good book club pick.